John d



(No Model.)

J. D. BULTZ 81: G. RBITER.

CHAIN GEAR FOR VEHICLES.

us ca, worouwmwnsumcmu D u N lTED CHAIN-GEAR FOR VEHICLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 580,369,

Application filed August 24, 1896.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, JOHN D. BULTZ and GEORGE Rnrrnn, citizens of theUnited States, residing at Cincinnati, Ohio, have invented new anduseful Improvements in Chain-Gears for Vehicles, of which the followingis a specification.

Ourinvention relates to chain-gears, particularly to the class of suchgears in which a chain with elevated sprockets is employed, having aresting-support upona driven wheel of small diameter, but engaging forpropulsion a wheel of larger diameter. In such constructions (an exampleof which is shown as applied to a bicycle in pending application,SerialNo. 589,17 9, heretofore filed by us) the elevated sprocket-linksof the chain, being carriedforward over the driving sprocketwheelpropelled by the foot-levers, constitute an obstruction liable to catchin the clothing or foot-gear of the rider; and the object of ourinvention is to avoid this difficulty and also to economize the cost andweight of the propelling-chain.

To this end our invention consists in the construction of a sprocketband or chain, as herein described, and the combination therewith of theordinary link chain, such as commonly used, together employed as a meansof driving a disk wheel such as described in said pending application.

Mechanism embodying our invention is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of our inventioncomplete as applied to a bicycle. Fig. 2 is a similar side elevationshowing a modified construction. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of part ofthe band, showing construction; and Fig. 4, a radial cross-section ofthe disk-wheel and sprocket-band, showing construction.

Referring now to the drawings, A designates the usual propelling-chainof abicycle, constructed of alternate open and closed links engaged by asprocket-wheel (not shown) propelled by foot-levers in the customarymanner, and B a disk-wheel rigidly attached to the hub of the rearbearing-wheel (not shown) of the bicycle-frame F.

The wheel B is constructed of two parallel disks U11 connected by a hub17 as shown. Upon the hub 19 is fitted a loose collar 0, provided withcentering-sprockets 0 its function dated April 13, 1897.

$erial No. 603,704. (l lo model.)

being to furnish a rest-bearing at its periphery for a linkedsprocket-band D, presently to be described, and hold it by means of thesprockets 0 against side displacement. The collar 0 is free to rotateloosely on the hub 19 between the disks.

The sprocket-band D is constructed, as indicated in Fig. 3, oftriangular side plates d, each having at the apex anoutwardly-projecting stud 61 each two opposite side plates being spacedapart and connected across at each end of the base by pivot-studspassing through intervening links 6, each of the latter being providedwith a sprocket e rising outwardly. The sprocket-band thus formed passesaround the rear half of the collar 0, on whose periphery it has arest-bearing, and is laterally centered in relation to the disks by thesprockets 0 which enter between the triangular plates. Instead ofsprockets the collar may have a centering-groove for this purpose. Thelateral studs 01 of the triangular plates project outwardly and engagein recesses Z) in the periphery of the disks, these recesses being ofsuch depth that the studs 61 are in contact only at one side and neverat the bottom of the recesses.

An ordinary sprocket-wheel idler F is arranged forward of the wheel B,over which the band D is carried. The idler F is set upon an adjustablepivot-stud s, secured in the adjacent rear fork g of the bicycle-frame,and carries the outer bight of the sprocketband, the object being tosupport the unused portion of the band, regulate the tension, andfacilitate its detachmentfrom the propellingchain in action.

The driving-chain A enters between the triangular plates of thesprocket-band D and engages the sprockets e of the links 6 in the usualmanner of sprocket engagement. The driving power of the chain A is thustransmitted to the sprocket-band D and through the latter to the disksof the wheel B at the contact-points of the studs 01 We find, amongother advantages of this construction, a practical remedy for theordinary friction of the chain, due to the freedom of the parts toaccommodate any inaccuracy of workmanship, unequal wear, 85c.

\Ve claim as our invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States-- 1 05 1. The chain band herein described, consisting ofalternate links as follows: (first) a link composed of two oppositetriangular plates having outwardly-projecting studs at their apexes, and(second) a link having an upwardly-projectingsprocket and connecting thepairs of plates between and in the line of their bases, substantially asset forth.

2. In achain driving-gear, the combination of a grooved driven pulley; achain band having a rest-bearing in the groove of same, and lateralsprockets on the chain band engaging the side walls of the groove; and adriven chain passing in a bight in the groove of the driven pulleyseated upon and engaging the chain band, substantially as set forth.

3. In a chain driving-gear the combination of a grooved pulley, a looseguide-collar carried in the groove of said pulley, a chain band carriedover and resting upon said collar between the walls of the groove, saidchain being provided with radial sprockets, and with lateral sprocketsengaging in recesses of the outer walls of the groove, and an openlinkeddriving-chain carried around the pulley on the back of said chain bandand engaging the radial sprockets of the latter, substantially as setforth.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

JOHN D. BULTZ. GEORGE REITER.

Witnesses:

L. M. HosEA, JAMEs L. FOLEY.

